BRYAN Robson has backed Nathan Ellington to provide the goal threat to help Albion climb the table after insisting the striker is now back firing on all cylinders.

BRYAN Robson has backed Nathan Ellington to provide the goal threat to help Albion climb the table after insisting the striker is now back firing on all cylinders.

Ellington and the rest of Albion's front line are yet to find the net in four away games this season as the Baggies' troubles on the road - despite an excellent performance in Tuesday's defeat at Preston - linger on.

But Robson believes Ellington, John Hartson and Kevin Phillips are simply in the midst of the sort of run which afflicts all strikers from time to time and that all three will soon discover their goalscoring touch away from home.

Ellington remains potentially a prolific scorer for Albion at Championship level, with his 24 goals helping Wigan to the Premiership two years ago before his move to The Hawthorns.

Things didn't go entirely swimmingly last season, with Robson particularly frustrated by Ellington's absence with a toe injury when the heat was on in the bid to avoid relegation.

But Albion resisted overtures from Wigan to resign the 25-year-old this summer, and, with Robson nursing him back from a hamstring injury, Ellington's cameo from the bench at Deep-dale has suggested to his manager that he's now back close to his best.

"The reason why I have been putting Nathan on the bench is to protect him from his hamstring injury," said Robson. "But when he has come on he has been looking really sharp and bright.

"He is back 100 per cent fit and just where we want him."

On the continuing frustration away from home, where Albion have struck just once in four Championship fixtures, Robson believes the strikers will soon come good.

"I think with the quality of strikers we have got, we are just going through a patch where we are not taking our chances," he added.

"But if we keep playing like we did at Preston we will score goals and win more games then we lose."

For now, though, Albion can put their miserable away record to one side and focus on getting themselves back in the thick of the promotion race with a win at home to Southend on Saturday.